From June 1975 THE ANNUAL WEEK in the WOODS Since I have been writing these columns, which has been going on now for several years, I usually write about a trip into the Park (Algonquin) with one of our old parties. I have mentioned that the six men in this party are all retired, one […]
Category: BICE Papers
THE BICE PAPERS – Loons
Couple of issues back I entitled a column Geese and Loons, and then I found out I had a lot to say about geese, and never did get around to saying anything about loons. It is nice to see any of the birds back in the spring, even the crows. For some reason or other […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Just Fishing
The year of 1975 will be remembered by many as the year we did not have any real spring in East Parry Sound. It was cold, ice very slow and late in going, and then a heat wave, hotter than we have had most of the last quarter century of summers. Now, and this is […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Geese & Loons
1975 MOSTLY GEESE I do not suppose there is anything that is more widely watched and talked about in the spring and fall than the migration flights of the wild geese. There are many more and perhaps larger flocks in the fall. The fall flights, while we are pleased to see them, have […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Maple Syrup
MAPLE SYRUP Many years ago at school, we were told that the early explorers and settlers first discovered that the natives were making syrup from the sap of maple trees. There have been several suggestions as to how they discovered they could make a sweet substance by continuously boiling the sap until it thickened a […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Steal a Turkey
1975 To Steal a Turkey Recently I was in a gathering where one or two old-timers were telling about times they had raided chicken coops for a private boiled chicken party. Seems like it was quite a few years ago. One of the things to do was to invite the owner of the chickens to […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Spring
1975 SPRING If we go by the calendar, spring arrives just a soon as the sun crosses the line on the way north. This time and date is usually considered to be March 21st, but due to the few minutes difference in time each year there are times when it is a few hours away […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Snowshoes
1975 Snowshoes I read an article wherein the writer stated that the art of making snowshoes had been brought to North America when the first men crossed over into the continent from Asia. Too, the writer mentioned that they also brought the knowledge of skiing, but this had been discarded in favour of snowshoes, as […]
THE BICE PAPERS – A Trappers’ Workshop
1975 Trappers’ Workshops in NW Ontario The flight from Toronto to Dryden was uneventful. We drove to Ignace for the first course. There was not a large crowd, due to a heavy snowfall that made travelling very bad. Back in Dryden there was a big turn out. There was much interest in fur handling though […]
THE BICE PAPERS – Tea
1975 Tea I have heard it said that when you mention “tea” to an Englishman he will at once think of the four o’clock break that has been the custom for so long in England. An American will think of the Boston Tea Party although I have yet to meet an American who can tell […]